CROW COMA
THE STORY
WHAT’S THE STORY?
Know Promises Theatre Collective's first public performance was a presentation of a work-in-progress titled “Crow Coma”.
The concept was from 2017 when one of the collective members was inspired by the story of an Estonian TV presenter who was in a fatal car accident that caused them to fall into a coma for 11 days.
The reality of being in a coma woke the idea of being. Being between here & there, conscious & unconscious, life & death.
Having this as the main storytelling Device, it allows the lead character/protagonist to journey from past memories, observing the present & sometimes reliving those moments, to also visiting the future, if the Crow feels that they're ready to face & step into the future...
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
A Crow arrives to tell our lead that they are in a Coma. That they have a choice: to either wake up & go back to life, or stay here with me... revisiting memories, present moments & the future will help our lead character to decide.
Players/Performers from Ireland, France & the United States first met for a weekend in June 2022 to workshop the show idea & playing style. Having the trust of the connection of the new collective - the playing style & the story - plans continued further to develop this project.
In March 2023, players/performers from Ireland, Scotland, England, France & Estonia came together to workshop, connect & devise during 10days in the Nest (Custom House Quay, Sligo/Sligeach, Ireland/Éireann) to present up to 9 scenes as a 30min piece.
Using ideas from the concept of the show, the script and the workshop process, they performed four 30minute shows in the Factory Performance Space (Sligo/Sligeach, Ireland/Éireann) on Friday the 24th & Saturday the 25th of March 2023.
WHAT NEXT?
Know Promises Theatre Collective are now ready for collaborating with Theatre Companies, Festivals and Funding Organisations for “Crow Coma” to become a full-scale production.
...the crow knows.
THE JOURNEY
Participants
Sometimes there are no words needed to say, when you already have been together
in the Gray.
performer (Crow), light operator
performer, sound operator
writer, facilitator/director
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Crow coma… What A journey… The story gave us enough freedom to really explore the "how can we tell a story together".
As we were improvising most of the dialogue, operating the lights and sound, we were just - as performers - in this kind of beautiful but scary bubble of trust.
As the performer playing the crow in this direction, I really enjoyed working with the mask of his head. Because my vision was reduced and I had to find another breathing rhythm, the mask really helped me to get into the character in a deeper way.
I'm proud of us for making that happen and to see this idea flourish the way it did, especially considering that we all came from very different training backgrounds. I'm excited to see it evolve more as it deserves.
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The concept was from 2017 when I heard the story of an Estonian TV presenter who was in a fatal car accident that caused them to fall into a coma for 11 days.
Then a Crow arrived.
The idea of being in a Coma, between life & death, I felt that this can be a storytelling device to allow us to go anywhere.
I have learned so much and have been inspired by the companies that I have worked with: Blue Raincoat Theatre Company's use of physical theatre, puppetry & shadow, the company Teac Damsa’s use of Dance, Music & Theatre, also Complicité, as a company that can blend the 4th wall & hold a more accessible space for a shared experience between audience & performers.
There is a raw playing style that shows the mechanics of the theatre being made live, that I wish to approach & open, on the playing stage with a group of performers, to explore in a connected & shared space.
Know Promises Theatre Collective took shape & is allowing us to explore our own ideas, create & show new works of theatre.
Playing in those grey areas of work, life & stories, we search, to find something worth sharing & experiencing as a collective, & with audiences.
To go on the journey, of idea to stage, the process of holding connection with the collective with the anchors needed to guide a story & the transitions between scenes, was an amazing balance of being a member of the collective to where I was placed in being a director of the project.
I am so honoured by the energy & time given to this idea by each member of this project & feel, the what, where & how we can create an exciting new Theatre Collective.
The end of the first incarnation of Crow Coma feels like an amazing new beginning of a journey, with the aim to connect, explore & share through theatre.
My Crow says:
As the Crow flies.
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Crow Coma for me was so much more than a project. It was a true journey into how far and how deep your connections to other people can span.
The beginning of this adventure which only last 11 days was a curious one, many of us had never seen each other before let alone worked with one another. But from the outset of this process there was already a connection that felt stronger than most. We began to know each other on a deeper level and that really tied back to this tragic and amazing story of the world of a coma. But if we were going to traverse this weird and wonderful world we were going to do it together.
The process of working on Crow Coma taught me a lot as an actor but even more as a person I feel.
My crow says:
Be free as a bird!
performer, sound designer/operator
Caoimhe Feehily
performer, light operator
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77th one. Imagine, that this person, who is standing in the spotlight is in a Coma. And you see him. You know, that he is your 77th one. You have already done it. And you are doing it again. And again and again… Like a backstage worker in the world between life and death.
I stood there naked in front of myself with all my feelings. Two weeks. And every time I thought that now is enough, I found myself deeper inside the Grey:
Do I wanna dance with life without knowing everything? Or structure life without trusting the unknown?
I chose to dance. Every time.
An unforgettable journey. Two weeks living in the middle of the Grey area. A big beautiful Grey. at first, then terrifying, and finally clear as water. I went back in my childhood, I died and was born again. Even Shadows are made by mixing black and white.
The Crow is a wonderful bird. Observer, who carries the pure unaffected truth.
I found my Crow again. It was amazing.
My Crow says:
Where flies the Crow
You better know
Your Truth
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I am an actor, theatre maker & drama facilitator from Sligo. I was delighted to be a part of the development, devising and presentation of Crow Coma.
It was an intense, challenging, but ultimately rewarding couple of weeks working together. From most of us having not worked with one another before, we quickly built up trust and a bond within the group which freed us up to dive straight in to play and experimentation and develop our work into a cohesive piece that we could perform to an audience.
Given the short amount of time we had, I am really proud of what we developed and I look forward to seeing where the further development of Crow Coma will go next.
Robert Siberry
performer, photographer
performer, light operator
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Working on Crow Coma was a joy as creating. Moving and working with others taught me a lot!
My Crow says:
What is Crow’s favorite game?
: Croquet
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Coming soon…
Emma Rawl
fairy in the background, administator
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Theatre was never something I imagined myself getting involved in and still to this day I could never see myself up on that stage performing in front of crowds of people, but there is something about the atmosphere of theatre that draws me in.
Walking into the Blue Raincoat Performance Space, during both the rehearsals and show nights was a feeling/sight to be remembered. You could see the nerves amongst the actors, you could see the excitement in their eyes knowing they were going on stage to their safe space where they could just do what they love best, but best of all you could see the connection, the understanding between everyone that helped them become a team before anything else.
Watching all the Actors/Performers pull this together in such a short amount of time was incredible, to think they brought this piece together in 11 days, without knowing each other as people, without knowing each other's acting styles, and made it into something so special that we could all watch and enjoy.
It was an absolute pleasure, both watching the piece come together and even more so seeing the final product. I look forward to seeing where the collective is going next, and I am elated to be a part of the team.
OUR CROW MASK MAKER
Eoghan Hegarty
From Ireland
a Model-maker, Sculptor, freelance Film artist, and studying Blacksmith, who loves Street Theatre.
After graduating from IADT Dun Laoghaire in 2015, Eoghan pursued his love for craft and film, freelancing on independent Irish film, TV, and Theatre.
Then he moved back to his home in the West of Ireland. He is now based out of Sligo Town studying the traditional craft of Blacksmithing in his shop on Lower Quay St.
And has since worked on several productions, such as "Desert Warrior", MBC, "Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves", Paramount productions, and "Hardy Bucks", a TV Series.
Eoghan has recently been getting involved in theatrical performances including crafting and performing "Badb", a 10ft puppet depicting Morrigán, the Celtic Goddess of Prophecy.
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Working with Brian is always an experience.
The road I took to craft this Crow mask came from long talks we had, about the character of the Crow.
Brian turned and said to me one evening about his love of the Strawboy Masks, old Halloween Costumes, and bags, fashioned into ghoulish nightmares.
And not long later I had a bag of his finest Barley crop, which I had then used to portray some of the Crow’s character.
It's a mixed medium piece and its construction was fun for me, as I had a lot of flexible parameters.
Brian and the crew thankfully trusted me to deliver, what I hope is what they all imagined, what it could be.
And I hugely appreciate being part of this project.
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Crows know things we - humans - won’t ever know…
And finally…
OUR MAGICAL KEYS
Blue Raincoat Theatre
Thanks to them, we had opportunity to use their full creative space. And a lot good advice. We can even say, that for one week they gave us a place where to live. It was an amazingly atmospheric playing space to present work to an intimate audience. We will always remember our first presentation to a public & trust we will return to this stage.
Niall Henry, Bettina Gigante & all the ensemble for the welcome to their venue - The Factory Performance Space, Lower Quay Street, Sligo, Ireland.
Joseph P Hunt - sound technical support
Diarmuid Woods & Barry McKinney - lighting technical support
Branching Out Art The Nest
Unlimited freedom. It was our creative space during the first week. We had room to explore, play, devise & rehearse in their upstairs, large workshop space.
Director Fergus Geelan - space at their venue: The Nest, Custom House Quay, Sligo, Ireland.
Director Saieda Betro-Kelly - poster design support
No matter how big is the key, all of them are wonderful…
Mama Devaney - our food fairy with a warming smile that dissolves all kind of stress, support with a car and much, much more
Jaume Allelo - the photographer of our poster & invitation image
John McLoughlin from RTÉ - support with props for use in the presentation
Tiger Print Sligo - for the support in our poster
Sligo Drama Circle
Magical support in the form of things to create new realities on stage. They had everything we couldn't find in our homes or wardrobes.
Máire Hynes & all at SDC - Costumes & Props for the show
Collaboration is the key that opens magical doors in this world.
Every creation needs collaboration. It is almost impossible to bring something to the stage, working without a team. There is so much more, than the audience could imagine. It is pleasure to find such a good collaborators. Thank you!